Opinion: Let’s assume the best

Commentary by Jeff Worrell

There was a time, not so long ago, when we assumed good intentions. If a neighbor said something we disagreed with, we gave them the benefit of the doubt. If a co-worker slipped up, we assumed it was a mistake, not malice. That simple habit of assuming good intentions used to be the glue that held our civil discourse together.

But today, suspicion often rushes in before understanding. Social media rewards outrage. Headlines are designed to provoke. We begin with “what’s their angle?” instead of “what’s their point?”

When we stop assuming good intentions, it becomes easier to label people, shut them out and retreat to our own corners. And that’s where civility begins to crack. Not with shouting or name-calling, but with the quiet withdrawal of trust.

Civility doesn’t mean we all agree. It means we’re willing to believe the person across from us is acting with sincerity, even when we see the world differently. That’s how bridges are built.

So the next time you find yourself in a tough conversation, start with this assumption: What if their view is genuine and coming from a good place? That small shift can open the door to understanding instead of shutting it. It doesn’t mean you have to agree, but it does signal you are willing to listen, to stay in the conversation and to treat the other person with respect. That is how real progress begins, not in our corners, but in the space between us.

Let’s be civil.